Roller derby stars skate up for a three-day competition in South Australia
With names like Ankle Grinder, Brutiful and Eze-Kill, these skaters are ready to show the best roller derby has to offer at Adelaide’s national slam. Meet some of the SA stars.
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While it may look like fun, roller derby is not for the faint hearted.
Established in 2007, Adelaide Roller Derby offers one of the country’s grittiest and competitive sporting competitions.
Around 100 members, four home teams and three travel teams, the ADRD is one of SA’s oldest and largest roller derby leagues.
An ADRD spokeswoman said the aim was to develop a diverse group of people who were committed and passionate about the sport of women’s flat track roller derby – on and off the skates.
“We are a non-profit association, run by the members and for the members and dedicated to promoting sport over spectacle,” she said.
“Safety, athleticism and teamwork are highly regarded values for Adelaide Roller Derby as we structure an empowering and enduring experience for the women and gender expansive people of Adelaide.”
The circuit celebrated it’s 10 year anniversary back in 2017.
Roller derby is a fast-paced full-contact sport played on quad rollerskates.
Each game has two 30-minute periods composed of two-minute plays or “jams.”
The “jammer” must pass each opposing “blocker” upright and in-bounds in order to make a legal lap.
After the initial lap, jammers accumulate one point for every opposing blocker they pass.
In two weeks, 30 teams from all over Australia will roll their way into Adelaide to play more than 40 games in three divisions over three days during The Great Southern Slam.
It will be held at the Adelaide Showground on June 11 to June 13.
Meet some of the derby stars who will hit the track.
Ankle Grinder
(Adelaide Roller Derby – The Mile Die Club and The Adelaide Representative Squad (As):
Ankle Grinder’s love of the sport began by a chance meeting one day at work in 2008.
“A group of derby skaters came into the store I used to work at on Rundle Street and put up some derby posters,” She said.
“That night, I had a dream that they skated into my room and ripped down all my band posters and replaced them with roller derby posters.
“So, logically, I had to go and see what it was all about.”
Tired of being a passive spectator for her mates’ hobbies and passions, Ankle Grinder eventually found her groove, going to America and Europe and racking up over 100 games.
“I captained our representative team at the WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association) North American Continental Cup in Utah in 2019 just before Covid,” she said.
“There was years of work leading up to the event in terms of getting us to rank high enough to qualify, and it was great to see that work pay off.
“We have to work a lot harder in Australia to compete with teams from North America and Europe where the sport is much bigger, but Adelaide represented.
“It was so much fun travelling there with my teammates.”
Bowdacious Bruiser
(Valkyrie Storm and Dames of Hazard, Salties and Road Train Rollers, Adelaide Representative Squad):
Bowdacious Bruiser was on the lookout for a team sport that ticked all of the boxes and in 2014 she found exactly that.
“I wanted to play a team sport and when I saw a game it just looked so exciting and challenging so wanted to give a go,” she said.
“This sport has the most amazing community I have ever been apart of.
“You can travel the world and find new friends by connecting through roller derby.
“One of my favourite accomplishments was playing a game of derby while in Bangkok, Thailand and receiving the MVP award.
“It’s so much fun playing with people from around the world and everyone knows a roller derby skater knows how to party.”
Fortis O-pal
(Murder City Roller Derby, Dames of Hazard, Adelaide Roller Derby, Road Train Rollers and Adelaide Representative Squad (Bs):
Wanting to learn a new skill, Fortis O-pal took up roller derby in 2016.
“It was a full contact sport I’d never heard of before,” they said.
“When I watched my first game at Murder City it looked intense and challenging.
“I wanted to learn a new skill and develop my fitness in a way I’d never had the opportunity to before.”
Having played over 50 games, Fortis O-Pal even took home a gold medal after a Queensland Tournament.
Bone Shaker
(Wild Hearses, Mile Die Club, Adelaide Representative Squad, Victorian Roller Derby League and Montreal Roller Derby):
While the sport may seem intimidating to begin with, for Bone Shaker overcoming the fear of the grit of the game has led to a beautiful experience.
“Roller derby seemed so cool from the first game I watched,” they said.
“The strong feminist, grassroots feeling of it all really got me hooked at a punter.
“I was taken aback that I was yelling and cheering at a sports event (which so out of character for me) and knew straight away roller derby was something special.”
Jetfire
(Adelaide Roller Derby – Mile Die Club, Adelaide Representative Squad (As and Bs):
Beginning her roller derby career in 2009, Jetfire has played a lot of games, but still highlights winning the Mile Die Club’s first grand final in 10 years.
“We loved ourselves sick,” she said.
Trinket
(The Vigilantes, Valkyrie Storm, The Homicidolls, The Salties, Road Train Rollers,
Adelaide Representative Squad):
Citing an addiction to sports, Trinket fell in love the full contact sport of roller derby.
“I was already skating in the street and loved the full contact aspect of how extreme that is to do while on rollerskates,” they said.
With over 100 games ticked off, Trinklet says winning the Sparkle puff award (best and fairest) in 2018 is still a career highlight.
Elle
(Road Train Rollers and Adelaide Representative Squad (As)
Playing 150 games, Elle captained the A team in Utah for the Continental Cup.
Valkyrie Vixen
(World War G, Valkyrie Storm, BabyDolls, Homicidolls, Road Train Rollers)
Breaking into the scene in 2013, Valkyrie Vixen joined the roller derby scene to gain her power and strength back.
“I had my first big break up and wanted to find something that helped me get my power back and feel strong,” she said.
“Through Derby, I’ve found not only my power but also my people.”
Now 50 games in, Vixen captained a team to grand final glory against an undefeated team in 2017.
Eze-Kill
(Murder City Roller Derby, Adelaide Roller Derby, Wild Hearses and Mile Die Club):
Four years into their Roller Derby career, Eze-Kill said they were attracted to how “bloody cool” the sport looks.
“I started because I was seeking inclusion in a community that empowers women and gender diverse people in a bloody cool sport,” they said.
“When I begun playing, the strength and confidence of the skaters stood out to me.”
Rage Ruthless
(Wild Hearses, Valkryie Storm, Homicidolls):
After attending a trial in 2015, Rage Ruthless has been hooked on the sport ever since.
“It’s people hitting each other on rollerskates – what’s not to love,” she said.
“Once I started actually playing, I realised there’s a lot more to it than that and I quickly grew to love the strategy and complex skills that make up the sport.”
Notching 50 games, Ruthless was proud to win the most improved in 2016.
“It was a real honour to have my hard work seen and acknowledged by the league.”
Invader Scrim
(Gawler Roller Derby League, Brawling Matildas Roller Derby League, Adelaide Roller Derby and Adelaide Representative Squad):
Invader Scrim said she was inspired by the sport when she began in 2011.
“The skill of the skaters was inspiring, and I wanted to be able to do something that amazing and dangerous,” she said.
Alice Affliction
(Gold Coast Roller Derby, Paradise City Roller Derby, Sun State Roller Derby
Adelaide Roller Derby – Adelaide Representative Squad):
For Alice Affliction, her love of roller derby began after watching a documentary well over 10 years ago.
“It looked fun and different,” she said.
“I’d never really roller skated but was interested in playing a contact sport.
“I looked online and found someone forming a league on the Gold Coast and thought why not?”
The sport has taken Alice Affliction all over the world including Wisconsin, Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina and Utah.
“I played in the grand final game in the continental cup held in Utah which we unfortunately didn’t win but have a silver medal for our trouble,” she said.
IV
(The Mile Die Club, Adelaide Representative Squad):
IV began her roller derby career as a teenager after her mum asked her to pick up a sport.
“She gave me the option of 10 pin bowling or Roller Derby … I think it was an obvious answer,” she said.
Now with over 100 games played, IV’s talents have taken her all the way to Utah, USA.
Blue Wrenegade (Wren)
(The Salties and Adelaide Representative Squad):
Wren was immediately hooked after watching her first derby.
“The fun, athleticism and showmanship of the skaters I just thought, sign me up!” she said.
Playing hundreds of competitive games, Wren still sights her time playing in Japan and the USA her greatest achievement.
Truffles
(Light City Derby, Brisbane City Rollers, Wizards of Aus, Adelaide Representative Squad and the Wild Hearses):
Playing hundreds of derby games, Truffles highlights making the world cup representative team as their greatest career achievement.
“Being part of a wonderfully diverse community and being able to play an intense sport on rollerskates,” Truffles said.
Lady Vengeance
(Murder City Roller Derby, Road Train Rollers and Adelaide Representative Squad):
Despite not making a squad two years straight, Lady Vengeance finally got her start in 2013.
“A friend of mine was trying out. It looked like lots of fun so I went out and bought skates and gear that day.” Lady Vengeance said.
Brutiful
(Road Train Rollers, Adelaide Representative Squad, Team Indigenous Dreaming, Murder City Roller Derby and Light City Derby):
Whether it’s a big team win or a small team win, Brutiful prides themselves on being an active team member, stating their love of the sport came from a music video.
“It was a combination of seeing Anti Flag’s Bright Lights of America music video and the release of Whip It that made me investigate if the sport was in my local area,” Brutiful said.
“I was like 17 years old. I was, and I cannot stress this enough, obsessed and naturally I wanted to play.”
Count deBumps
(Mile Die Club, Adelaide Representative Squad):
Starting her career in 2012, Count deBumps was attracted to the commotion.
“It’s a sport surrounded by spectacle,” she said.
“My highest accomplishment has to be winning the home season premiership as well as a bunch of tournaments.”
Cassaroll (prev MagiCAss)
(Light City Derby, The Salties, Road Train Roller and a Wild Hearse. Adelaide Representative Squad):
Derby faithful Cassaroll remembers her first rush of adrenaline watching the sport almost a decade ago.
“I went along to my first game when I was pregnant and just thought “oh my goodness I have to do that,” she said.
“The idea of being a part of a strong community of amazing women was something I was really drawn to.
“And having grown up on the stage, being able to don Lycra again and take on a new persona was super attractive. I love it.”
Victoria Bitter
(Light City Derby, The Salties, Adelaide Representative Squad):
Eight years into her career, Victoria Bitter doesn’t regret giving the sport “a crack”.
“I went to watch a game with a friend and thought wow that looks like fun,” she said.
“A few years later I bought some skates and decided to give it a crack!”
Crush’er Ramone
(Vigilantes and Valkeries. Road Train Rollers and Adelaide Representative Squad):
Living up to their name, Crush’er Ramone cites “hitting people on rollerskates” about what stood out to them about the sport.
Alice Dawkins
(Light City Derby, Murder City Roller Derby, Wild Hearses, and Adelaide Roller Derby):
Alice Dawkins has played for a number of teams and leagues since joining roller derby in 2016.
Dawkins said the inclusivity and the fun of the sport is what attracted her to begin playing.
QT
(Adelaide Roller Derby and Lil’ Adelaide Rollers):
QT has played over 100 games including Playing in the Junior World Cup in Seattle and travelling with Adelaide Roller Derby’s rep squad to Utah.
Rapture
(Murder City Roller Derby, Wild Hearses and Adelaide Representative Squad)
For some, the thought of anything sparkly would turn them off a sport, but for Rapture the uniform was a standout.
“There are people of all shapes playing in sequin shorts a cool rollerskates,” she said.
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